U-CF residency issue is cleared by CCIU report

The long-running issue of families living
outside the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District but still sending
their children to district schools was wrapped up -- at least
temporarily -- with the release of the results of an investigation on
July 22.

The independent review, conducted by the
Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU), found that the district
"acted in good faith regarding residency issues in the school
district," according to an e-mail from the CCIU announcing the
results.

Representatives of the CCIU presented the
finished report to the school board in an executive session before
the board's July 14 meeting. No mention of the report was made in the
brief public meeting that followed that night, which was devoted to
appointing a new board member.

In its summation of the investigation, the
CCIU wrote, "Superintendent Dr. John Sanville assumed leadership
of the district on September 1, 2011, and inherited a student
residency issue that dated back to 2004. The case involved alleged
non-resident students attending UCFSD schools. Superintendent
Sanville commissioned the CCIU in February of 2014 to undertake an
objective review of this specific residency case, and UCFSD residency
policies and practices as a whole."

The CCIU studied the residency issue over
the past four months, conducting data analysis, interviewing Sanville
and board members, and examining the district's residency practices,
as well of the policies in place in 14 surrounding school districts.
The CCIU also got feedback from former school board member Holly
Manzone, who publicly resigned from the board after conducting her
own investigation of the family in question.

Her sudden resignation caused a storm of
rumors among members of the public, leading to some frank
condemnation of Manzone from school board members at subsequent
meetings. Manzone was called "reckless and irresponsible"
for driving to the family's home to see if they lived inside the
district, and then following the family's car as they drove away from
the home.

The report analyzed current UCFSD practices
related to student residency, evaluated the district's handling of
the specific residency case, assessed the cost effectiveness of
current residency investigation practices, and determined that the
district's policies and practices conform to industry standards.

The report does recommend that the board
adhere strictly to the existing policy (Policy 200), and review the
procedures every two years. The CCIU also recommended that the
district's business manager should be the point of contact for
residency issues, because their job is to protect and conserve the
district's resources.

"The Unionville-Chadds Ford board has
undertaken a comprehensive review of their residency policies and
procedures – making sound changes to the existing policies and
procedures – and even implementing whole new policies to
supersede the old policies," Dr. O'Brien said.

Regarding the family in question, many
accusations were made by critics that some sort of deal had been made
with the administration to allow the family to send their children to
U-CF schools.

"There was no deal made by Dr. Sanville
and/or the UCFSD board with the family in question," O'Brien
said. "Dr. Sanville inherited this residency case from the
previous administrative team – and he was the first superintendent
to move on the family in question. He was motivated to do so by the
good intentions of Dr. Manzone to bring this issue to the attention
of the board and administration."

The full report (which is posted on the CCIU
website at www.cciu.org/UCFSDreport)
does, however, chastise Manzone.
"While Dr. Manzone’s intentions were good, her actions
in following the family were very inappropriate, bordering on
dangerous, and way beyond the normal scope of a board member’s
role," the report states. "She took these actions to check
the situation out and bring proof that the family had a primary
residence outside the UCFSD boundaries – but that is not a board
member’s role."

As far as the costs involved, the report states that, "When
compared with 14 other districts in Chester County and the
surrounding region, the costs associated with investigating residency
in UCFSD were found to be aligned, if not lower. The established
procedures are therefore cost effective for the district. Over a
three-year period, the district spent about $37,805 on student
residency issues. The per pupil cost of services in UCFSD is more
than $18,700, and the report, therefore, concludes that the amount
expended by the district to verify residency is valid."

O'Brien wrote that, "The
specific reputation of UCFSD is truly world class – and this is the
school district of choice for many people. Unfortunately, such a
quality school district can become very attractive to non-residents
who live in nearby areas, and the school district must assume the
burden of ensuring that taxpayers of Unionville-Chadds Ford do not
pay for the educational program of non-residents."

In a follow-up e-mail sent to local media, school board president
Vic Dupuis said, "Our aim all along has been to make sure we
follow the law and do the right thing for taxpayers and students. It
is reassuring to hear that everyone acted in good faith and that we
now have the right policies and procedures in place. I want to
underscore the point made in the report that our superintendent did
everything right. He followed policy, acted aggressively, fully
investigated and took appropriate action. No deals were made with
this superintendent or board. This should put to rest any
uncertainty."

According to specifics of the revised
Policy 200, "District of residence shall be defined as the
school district in which a student’s parents reside. When the
parents reside in different school districts due to separation,
divorce, or other reasons, the child may attend school in the
district of residents of the parent with whom the child lives for a
majority of the time, unless a court order or court approved custody
agreement specifies otherwise.

"If the parents have joint custody
and a child’s time is evenly divided, the parents may choose which
of the two school districts the child will enroll for the school
year. If the

parents maintain two residences, one
within a district, one outside the District, the

district of residence shall be the
residence where the child spends the majority of the

time when school is in session (that
is, excluding winter, spring, and summer

vacations).

“'Majority of the time' shall be
construed as at least four nights a week," the policy states.

The CCIU report states that, "At
this point in time, the issue of student residency is not

considered to be a major issue
confronting the UCFSD – by the board, the administrative team, and
the majority of the community. However, for some people from the
UCFSD community, this is a major issue and they will seek vigilance.

"Dr. Sanville made no deal,"
the report states. "However, it appears the family in question
was admitted under a different standard of residency. In 2004, the
superintendent set a different residency standard for family [name
deleted]. Specifically, if they had a driver's license, voter
registration and a utility bill with a UCFSD address, they could
register students in UCFSD. The family met that standard.

"In 2012, Dr. Sanville set a new
more rigorous residency standard. ... Dr. Sanville informed the
family that 'if the children are sleeping at the [name deleted]
residence in the UCFSD district the majority of the time -- defined
as at least four days per week -- then they will be considered
residents of the UCFSD."

Since 2012, the district has monitored
the family to ensure that they are complying with the new standard.
Investigators have determined, in the course of about 20 residency
checks, that they are in compliance.

"It is apparent that the family in
question did not properly reside in the school district for a
substantial period of time prior to Dr. Sanville and Dr. Manzone
spotlighting this case," the report states. "They were
allowed to do so by previous administrative leaders. ... Based upon
the current UCFSD policies and procedures, the [name deleted] family
is complying with all current requirements, and the students are
entitled to attend UCFSD schools."

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